BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Concerned residents in West Baltimore’s Liberty Square community walked their neighborhood with city leaders Tuesday, pressing for action on crime, illegal activity and long-standing quality-of-life issues they say have gone unaddressed for years.
The walk comes as residents point to recent violence and ongoing problems in the area, including what happened at the 7-Eleven on Liberty Heights Avenue, where an elderly man was attacked and beaten by a group of juveniles outside the store last month. Baltimore police are still trying to identify suspects in that case.
During the community walk, residents and community leader Kelli Bigelow urged city officials to focus on what they described as “crime and grime” in the neighborhood, including concerns about open-air drug dealing.
Kanika Feaster Gordon, a resident and homeowner, said the conditions have made it difficult to live comfortably in the community.
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“I’m fed up with the fact that I’m a homeowner, right? I came and invested in this community. And once I got here, I realized that I couldn’t actually really live here in peace,” Gordon said.
Gordon said residents are not seeking special treatment, but want a consistent seat at the table with city leaders.
“We’re not asking for preferential treatment. But what we are asking is for us to be able to sit the table, think of a plan, and be able meet on a regular basis to be be able act out that plan,” she said.
Residents also raised concerns about crime in and around Mondawmin Mall, including the shooting of a man at the mall in February.
Bigelow said she has been trying for years to get city leaders’ attention to address neighborhood concerns, and residents now want a clear plan and follow-through.
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“Investment. Actual work product, meaning what is your plan? Understanding who is in your neighborhood, not just a bunch of old people aging. You have professionals that you can leverage. We want partnership. We want to be taken as serious as you take our tax dollars. We deserve it,” Bigelow said.
Baltimore City Chief Administrative Officer Faith Leach, a top city official, joined the walk and listened to residents’ concerns, including issues involving vacant properties. At one stop, Leach discussed a large house residents said they did not want “to fall to developers that will put a transition home.”
Leach did not take questions from Fox45 News, the only media present. A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office said the walk was meant to be a private community walk and a meeting with residents only.
As residents continued to press for answers, Bigelow said, “It’s much more than a crime wall. It’s about community preservation.” Regarding police staffing, she added, “What is your action plan to staff the Northern District with more than 12 to 16 officers per shift? At what time do you treat me like we are Federal Hill?”
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